subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträ-pi-kəl 

variants or less commonly subtropic

ˌsəb-ˈträ-pik 

: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone

subtropical environment

subtropical grasses

Examples of subtropical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Millions of dengue cases are reported worldwide each year, and the disease is especially prevalent in tropical and subtropical climates with more mosquitoes.2 Dengue fever can cause serious illness, which is sometimes fatal. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 25 Mar. 2025

Warm water has caused severe bleaching of coral reefs over the past year, fueled tropical and subtropical storms and exacerbated the loss of sea ice. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025

For example, in subtropical Taiwan, scores of individuals from more than a dozen species may dart simultaneously across ponds less than 2 meters across. —Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 13 Jan. 2025

In the sea In tropical and subtropical climates, seaside developers have been replicating the artificial beach since the European seaside-resort model gave way to a tropical one in the middle of the last century. —Sarah Stodola, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subtropical

• intertropical
• microscopical
• neotropical
• topical
• tropical

Kids Definition

subtropical

adjective

sub·​trop·​i·​cal ˌsəb-ˈträp-i-kəl 

ˈsəb-

variants also subtropic

-ˈträp-ik 

: of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone

subtropical forests